COVID-19: National tally surpasses 300,000 mark, 298 more deaths recorded
VOV.VN - Vietnam has confirmed an additional 8,800 new coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, raising its cumulative caseload to more than 300,000, while 298 more fatalities have been recorded nationwide, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported on August 18 evening.
Of the newly detected cases, 8,788 were locally acquired and 12 were diagnosed upon returning from overseas, the MoH said in its 06.00pm coronavirus update.
Notably 5,935 cases were documented in the community through random testing or test screening at healthcare facilities, while the rest tested positive in quarantine or lockdown areas.
Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, led all cities and provinces in new infection numbers, registering 3,731 cases.
It was followed by Binh Duong 2,513, Dong Nai 443, Long An 428, Tien Giang 282, Kien Giang 169 An Giang 105, Tay Ninh 104, Can Tho 91, and Ben Tre 72, all in the south.
In the central region, Da Nang city topped regional localities, recording 278 cases. Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa reported 86 cases, Phu Yen 65, Nghe An 59, Quang Nam 53, and Thua Thien-Hue 17.
The past 24 hours saw 46 new cases detected in Hanoi, 7 in Bac Ninh, 4 in Lao Cai, 2 in Son La and 1 each in Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc, Lang Son, and Dien Bien.
Data from the MoH show the number of new infections documented during the past 24 hours fell by 807 cases compared to the previous day, mostly in Binh Duong, Long An and Tien Giang.
As of 06.00 pm on August 18 Vietnam has logged 298,064 new cases following virus resurgence in late April and 302,101 cases since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020.
As many as 115,059 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, including 3,751 recoveries on August 18.
The same day, the MoH announced 298 more COVID-19 deaths in 12 cities and provinces. HCM City confirmed 255 cases, while Binh Duong reported 20 cases.
To date 6,770 patients in Vietnam have died of COVID-19 and underlying illnesses, accounting for 2.2% of the total number of infections and equaling the world average.
